What is the Old New Year?

New Year's Day by the old Julian calendar. The Julian calendar is now 13 days behind the Gregorian one we use, so its January 1 falls on our January 14 — and the Old New Year's Eve is the night of January 13.

When is the Old New Year 2027?

On the night of Wednesday, January 13 to Thursday, January 14, 2027.

Why do Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7?

Some Orthodox churches — including the Russian, Serbian and Georgian — still keep the Julian calendar for church feasts. Their December 25 falls on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, and their New Year a week later, on January 14.

Will the Old New Year always be on January 14?

No. The gap between the calendars grows by one day every century year that isn't a leap year in the Gregorian calendar. From March 2100 the gap becomes 14 days, and the Old New Year will move to January 15.

Illustration

January 13–14 · the Julian calendar

The Old New Year

Two weeks after the fireworks, much of Eastern Europe celebrates New Year all over again — by the old Julian calendar. So do a Swiss village, a Welsh valley and two corners of Scotland.

Jan 13, 2027 – Jan 14, 2027

Why New Year comes twice

For centuries Europe used the Julian calendar. In 1582 the Catholic world switched to the more accurate Gregorian calendar; Britain followed in 1752, Russia only in 1918 and Greece in 1923. By then the two calendars were 13 days apart.

Countries changed their civil calendars, but several Orthodox churches — the Russian, Serbian, Georgian and Jerusalem churches among them — still keep the old one for feasts. So Christmas falls on January 7, and the old New Year's Eve on the night of January 13. People simply kept both celebrations.

Where the Old New Year is celebrated

Serbia, Montenegro, Republika Srpska

Srpska Nova godina — Serbian New Year

Night of Jan 13–14

The Serbian Orthodox Church still keeps the Julian calendar, so many Serbs celebrate New Year twice. In Belgrade the midnight fireworks are fired from the Church of Saint Sava, and a free concert usually takes place in front of City Hall or the National Assembly.

North Macedonia

Vasilica — St. Basil's Day

Jan 13 evening – Jan 14

Celebrated outdoors with food, drink and bonfires. Masked groups go from house to house collecting treats, and a pita is baked with a coin hidden inside — whoever finds it has luck for the year.

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and other former Soviet countries

Stary Novy God — the Old New Year

Night of Jan 13–14

Not a public holiday, but a much-loved second New Year: families sit down to another festive dinner, many keep the tree up until then, and it's the traditional night for winter fortune-telling. In January 2026 it was searched about 60,000 times in Kazakhstan alone.

Georgia

Dzveli Akhali Tseli — Old New Year

Night of Jan 13–14

Many Georgian families mark the old date with another table and visits to relatives, after Orthodox Christmas on January 7.

Ukraine — changed in 2023

Malanka and Shchedryi Vechir (Generous Evening)

Now Dec 31 (until 2023: Jan 13)

Generous Evening, with carolers singing shchedrivky and costumed Malanka processions, used to fall on January 13. Since the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church moved to the new church calendar on September 1, 2023, it's celebrated on December 31 — Christmas moved to December 25 the same year.

Urnäsch and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland

Alter Silvester — Silvesterchläuse

Dec 31 and again Jan 13

Groups of "New Year's Claus" in huge headdresses and bells walk from farm to farm yodeling wordless harmonies — once on the modern New Year's Eve and again on the old one, January 13.

Gwaun Valley, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Hen Galan — the Old New Year

Jan 13

The valley never fully switched to the 1752 calendar. On Hen Galan children go from house to house singing Welsh New Year songs, and are given calennig — sweets and money.

Foula, Shetland, Scotland

Christmas Jan 6, New Year Jan 13

Jan 13

The only community in the UK that still keeps Christmas and New Year by the old calendar: islanders celebrate Christmas on January 6 and New Year on January 13.

Burghead, Moray, Scotland

The Burning of the Clavie

Jan 11

A barrel of tar and staves is set alight and carried through the streets by the Clavie Crew to mark the old New Year's Day — January 11 here, because the gap between the calendars was 11 days when Britain changed in 1752.

Questions

What is the Old New Year?: New Year's Day by the old Julian calendar. The Julian calendar is now 13 days behind the Gregorian one we use, so its January 1 falls on our January 14 — and the Old New Year's Eve is the night of January 13.
When is the Old New Year 2027?: On the night of Wednesday, January 13 to Thursday, January 14, 2027.
Why do Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7?: Some Orthodox churches — including the Russian, Serbian and Georgian — still keep the Julian calendar for church feasts. Their December 25 falls on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, and their New Year a week later, on January 14.
Will the Old New Year always be on January 14?: No. The gap between the calendars grows by one day every century year that isn't a leap year in the Gregorian calendar. From March 2100 the gap becomes 14 days, and the Old New Year will move to January 15.

Sources: Wikipedia — Old New Year · Kyiv Independent — Ukraine's calendar change · Visit Pembrokeshire — Gwaun Valley · The Scotsman — Burning of the Clavie. Checked 2026-09-30.

Orthodox Christmas (January 7) →Three Kings Day (January 6) →The 12 Days of Christmas →